Nurse practitioner practice opportunities are limited not only by scope-of-care laws but also by payor policies, according to a new study conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change for the National Institute for Health Care Reform.
The study examined scope-of-practice laws in six states that have laws of varying levels of restrictiveness. Researchers found that more restrictive laws make it more difficult for NPs to bill payors, order tests and establish independent practices.
"Many NP respondents reported that payor policies had more of an impact than SOP laws on how and where they can practice," the study's authors wrote. "However, research has found that the level of restrictiveness in state scope-of-care practice laws appears to be associated with the level of autonomy granted to NPs through public and private payor policies."
In light of the impending national physician shortage, many believe scope-of-practice laws should be revisited in order to expand access to primary care through NPs.
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The study examined scope-of-practice laws in six states that have laws of varying levels of restrictiveness. Researchers found that more restrictive laws make it more difficult for NPs to bill payors, order tests and establish independent practices.
"Many NP respondents reported that payor policies had more of an impact than SOP laws on how and where they can practice," the study's authors wrote. "However, research has found that the level of restrictiveness in state scope-of-care practice laws appears to be associated with the level of autonomy granted to NPs through public and private payor policies."
In light of the impending national physician shortage, many believe scope-of-practice laws should be revisited in order to expand access to primary care through NPs.
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